We live with the breath, and yet we don’t know it, and as a result don’t get as much out of it as we could. The breath can provide food, clothing, shelter, and medicine for the mind if you take the time to get to know it well.

The type of insight that’s going to make a difference in the mind has to come from the mind’s being solidly based. So, until your mindfulness of the breath is really solid, this is where you want to focus all your efforts.

Learn how to enjoy keeping the mind with the breath. If you spend time with the breath, you get sensitive not only to the breath, but also to what the mind is doing in the present moment and to the way it causes unnecessary suffering for itself.

The Buddha often said that keeping company with lovely and wise people is one of the most supportive qualities for our path of awakening. One of the first of our sincere practices, where we can also begin, is to be lovely friends for others in this world. How our practice is developing the qualities that make a spiritual friend.